Chapter 102: I'll Take On This Business

In front of Old Chen, Director Pei straightforwardly cut to the chase.

“Since the people you, Wu Ya, have brought in are supposed to be in charge of sales, let me ask you directly—how do you plan to operate this department? No need for you to beat around the bush, and me to guess. One wrong move, and things could get awkward.”

Wu Ya was momentarily taken aback but quickly understood why Director Pei had behaved unusually all this time.

“Heh, I was careless! It seems Old Chen’s sudden appearance has made Director Pei a bit cautious. Very well, let me explain so you won’t harbor any grudges that might affect future work.”

Chen Boyuan had just been picked up by Wu Ya on the way here. Not only was Director Pei surprised, but Wu Ya himself was too. Yet there was no choice—he had come, misunderstandings had arisen, and they had to be cleared up first.

“My plan for the sales department’s operation is a commission-based salary system. Moreover, to incentivize sales, my suggestion is… no guaranteed base salary, pure commission only.”

“No base salary? Pure commission?” Chen Boyuan nodded approvingly. “Nephew, or rather, Boss Wu, that’s a great idea! No base salary and pure commission can maximize the sales team’s enthusiasm and prevent them from just collecting paychecks with no effort. As the sales supervisor, I wholeheartedly approve!”

He glanced at Director Pei, who remained expressionless.

“Hm, I also fully support this proposal. But how many people will be on the sales team?”

Wu Ya had entrusted all recruitment matters to Chen Boyuan. Apart from this suddenly arrived sales supervisor, no other salespeople had been hired. So was Chen Boyuan the only member of the sales department? It was uncertain.

If that were true, then his arrival wasn’t a threat to Wu Ya—it was a joke. Wu Ya had purposefully brought him in to take the brunt of the work.

Director Pei, a veteran of officialdom, immediately grasped the situation. But to be sure, he asked indirectly, “At this stage, is it just Chen Boyuan alone?”

“Just Chen Boyuan,” Wu Ya confirmed firmly.

The answer hit Chen Boyuan like a lightning bolt to the forehead. He sat dumbfounded on the sofa, unable to react for a long moment.

The entire sales department was just him? And the no-base, pure-commission system applied only to him? Heaven!

What had he said earlier? He had even enthusiastically endorsed the plan! He had assumed the system applied only to the sales staff, not to him as the supervisor.

This kid had dug a huge trap for him!

Chen Boyuan shook his head hard, trying to keep his thoughts straight. Finally, he realized Wu Ya’s true intention: to find someone to do hard labor without paying a base salary.

“Nephew, how could you do this? I’m a lifelong family friend of your father’s, your Uncle Chen! How can you cheat me? At least give me a base salary so I have some security.”

His face was bitter and pitiable. Even knowing he had been duped by Wu Ya, he dared not lose face. Perhaps if he pleaded a little more, Wu Ya might change his mind. After all, this was a big factory and a supervisory position. Saying so would at least save face.

“Heh, Supervisor Chen, just now when Boss Wu asked for our opinions, you were so resolute in saying no base salary would maximize sales enthusiasm. And as the supervisor, you wholeheartedly agreed! What, are you going to backtrack now? This is an official meeting, not a family dinner! Once a decision is made, it’s not to be changed on a whim!” Director Pei spoke then, his face clearly mocking.

Finally, he had found a chance to strike back at this old fellow. From the moment he appeared, he had been flaunting his superiority, constantly showing off in front of Wu Ya, even implying he wanted to suppress him. What was his basis? Being Wu Ya’s uncle?

Well, now it was payback time.

“You!” Chen Boyuan glared furiously at Director Pei but said nothing. He was helpless.

He had thought that coming to Wu Ya’s factory meant he was the emperor here. The factory director was just an employee of Wu Ya’s! And he was the one entrusted to look after Wu Ya’s interests. Naturally, he felt superior.

But he realized now he had overestimated himself. They didn’t see him as anything special at all. How sad.

“Heh, Uncle Chen, don’t get your hopes up. Our factory is just starting; it’s a time of rebuilding from scratch. The sales department has a long road ahead. Our vision is not limited to just the small Suiyan district; we’re aiming for the whole province and eventually nationwide!” Wu Ya looked at the reluctant Chen Boyuan and smiled gently.

“Nephew, I know starting a business is hard. But you can’t just offer commission without base pay. It makes me feel like I’m not part of this factory, just a temporary worker drifting about, dispensable. If it doesn’t work, maybe you should find someone else.”

But such words did nothing to sway Chen Boyuan. No money meant no motivation. Face alone was worthless.

Chen Boyuan had made up his mind. If Wu Ya refused to guarantee a base salary, he’d rather quit than work for free.

Wu Ya thought for a moment and continued, “Uncle Chen, aren’t you curious about the commission rates? Especially since our products are just entering the provincial market, with plans for nationwide expansion. If we achieve this, you’ll be the one who puts the Morning Thought brand on the national map! The bonuses then will be astronomical!”

Commission rates and future bonuses—those words immediately caught Chen Boyuan’s attention.

“What’s the current commission? And what about future bonuses?”

He asked instinctively.

Indeed, Morning Thought’s plans were grand, forward-looking, and challenging. But this also meant opportunity. For the Chinese clothing industry, Morning Thought was a blank canvas, and Chen Boyuan’s efforts would determine its fate. This was a chance to make big money.

“The current commission is five yuan per garment. Travel expenses fully reimbursed. For every 300 garments sold, the commission increases by fifty cents per item. If you establish 20 distributors province-wide, you get 50 yuan per distributor. If you capture one-thirtieth of the national market, I’ll give you 10,000 yuan; one-twentieth, 50,000 yuan; one-tenth, 100,000 yuan.”

Generous rewards attract brave men. And Chen Boyuan, who had always been money-minded, was no exception.

Selling 300 garments would net him 1,500 yuan. At 500 garments, that’s 2,700 yuan. A thousand garments would bring 5,500 yuan. Establishing 20 distributors would add another 1,000 yuan bonus.

Twenty distributors? That was almost free money.

After all, he was targeting the entire Huaiyuan Province. With his silver tongue, it would only take a few days. Heh, earning over ten thousand a month was no longer a dream.

Moreover, if the sales expanded to one-thirtieth of the national market, not only would he earn huge bonuses, but the sales volume alone would sustain him comfortably. Even living off the old profits would be feasible.

Filled with passion, Chen Boyuan suddenly looked at Wu Ya.

“Nephew, I’m in for this business!”

“Good!” Wu Ya smiled.

“Director Pei, arrange for an office for Supervisor Chen immediately! All office supplies must be the newest and best!” He turned to Director Pei, his voice tinged with excitement.

With his double life experience, Wu Ya was certain Chen Boyuan’s sales ability far surpassed ordinary people. Thick skin was an indispensable weapon for a successful salesman, and Chen Boyuan wielded it masterfully—willing to be humble to the point of insignificance for his goals, embodying the essence of ruthless pragmatism.

“I’ll arrange it right away! Supervisor Chen, do you have any special requests for your office?”

Director Pei stood, a broad smile spreading across his face. He was relieved. Wu Ya bringing this old fellow here wasn’t because he distrusted him; it was to use his strength to accomplish great things.

As a longtime factory director, though he had interacted with Chen Boyuan for less than an hour, he could tell this man was persistent and adaptable—someone who could crush you when in power but grovel when out of favor.

Past grudges? Nonexistent.

Sure enough, “Heh, Director Pei, you’re my direct superior as factory director. Whatever you decide, I obey!” Chen Boyuan lowered himself immediately, shedding all earlier arrogance, becoming a humble subordinate.

“Then I’ll arrange your office to supervisor standards, following Boss Wu’s suggestions,” Director Pei nodded, satisfied. Dealing with someone like this made life easier—though one must remain cautious.

“Director Pei, let your staff handle these arrangements. Regarding personnel composition in other departments, I want your advice,” Wu Ya said hastily before Director Pei could leave.

Personnel in other departments? Director Pei’s body trembled slightly, his steps faltering. He stopped in his tracks.